Dixon Family Matters

Being a Family

Note: Apologies for the obnoxiously long author's note at the end of this chapter, just wanted to make sure some things were cleared up :)

            "Are you okay?" Christian asked quietly. He and Sophia were sitting at the table in the RV. Carl was supposed to be with them, but he had snuck back outside as soon as his mother had left.

            "I'm fine," Sophia shrugged.

            "'m sorry about yer dad," Christian said and she shrugged again.

            "He wasn't a very good day," she said, "He hurt momma and me. Now he can't."

            Christian nodded as he pulled at a hole in his jeans.

            "Are you okay?" Sophia asked him.

            "I couldn't do it," Christian mumbled, "I tried ya shoot the walker, but I got scared."

            "Your dad said it was okay that you got scared," Sophia said, "And momma tells me all the time that it's okay to be scared."

            "Not against walkers," Christian shook his head, "If you don't shoot 'em, ya die. Or someone dies. I don't want anyone ta die cause of me."

            Sophia stood from her seat and slid in next to me, putting her arm around the younger boy.

            "Don't worry," she said, "Next time you get scare, I'll protect you."

            "You will?" Christian asked, looking up at her curiously.

            "Uh huh," she nodded earnestly, "Momma said everyone here needs to help protect each other. And since she looks after you whenever your daddy isn't here, I figure that kind of makes you like my little brother which means I'm gonna protect you no matter what."

            "I'll protect ya too," Christian said seriously, "Maybe I can teach ya ta shoot! Then if I ever get scared again ya might be able ta do it instead!"

            Sophia opened her mouth to answer, but before she could say anything there was a shout outside. The children exchanged looks before running to the door of the RV.

            "Jim's been bit! A walker got Jim!" Jacqui exclaimed, pointing at the man.

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            The group was standing around, trying to figure out what to do about Jim.

            "I don't want Jim to die," Sophia murmured as she, Christian, and Carl say a short ways away from the adults. The distance did nothing though and the three kids could still hear the adults arguing over whether to kill Jim now or not.

            Christian nodded in agreement with her and looked over at where the sick man sat. He stood and walked over slowly.

            "Hey kid," Jim said, attempting to smile.

            "Hi," Christian murmured.

            "You okay?" Jim asked and Christian nodded. "Sorry if I scared ya last night."

            "Ye saved me," Christian said, "The walker was gonne get me and ya pulled me outta the way."

            "Well, I couldn't let ya get bit, could I?" Jim chuckled slightly, but it turned into a cough. Christian gasped and took a step back, frightened.

            "It's okay," Jim said, holding up his hands, "See? Everything's okay."

            "Yer bit," Christian said, "It ain't okay."

            Jim looked down at his lap. He didn't know what to say to that.

            "Is it cause of me?" Christian asked and Jim looked up at him in shock, "Didja get bit cause of me?"

            "No!" Jim said immediately and the group looked over at the noise.

            "But ya pulled me outta the way and-"

            "And I was already bit," Jim said, resting his hands on the boy's shoulders. "I was           already bit when I saw that walker going after you. This isn't your fault, got that?"

            Christian nodded, wiping at his eyes.

            "Everythin' a'right?" Daryl asked, walking over and standing behind his son.

            "I was just telling Christian here that me bein' bit wasn't his fault," Jim explained.

            "Course it wasn't yer fault," Daryl said, looking down at the boy. "Why would ya think that?" Christian shrugged, leaning back against his father's legs.

            "Ya'll make a decision yet?" Jim asked and Daryl looked him over once before nodding.

            "Yer gonna be ridin' in the back of the RV," he told him, "Heading ta the CDC."

            "I'm not gonna make it all the way to the CDC," Jim admitted.

            "Then we'll see how far we do get," Daryl said and then gripped Christian shoulder. "C'mon, gotta get ready ta head out."

I rewrote this chapter so many times. I really wanted that interaction between Christian and Sophia as I realized we haven't seen a whole lot of it.

Somewhere in the next few chapters I'm planning for Caryl to start forming a bit more.

Also, I had a review on the last chapter and the person had a few questions and concerns. I answered their questions, but I figured I'd make sure everything was clear for everybody. This person (very nicely, and I'm also abbreviating what they said, it's not word for word) was concerned that Daryl didn't seem to be a very good parent because of a few things. And that Christian was kind of a pointless OC because he wasn't having any affect on Daryl and that Daryl wouldn't be exactly as he is in the show because in this he has a child.

I'm not going to go into everything we talked about, but the gist of it is that Daryl isn't a bad parent (at least I don't think so). There was an issue with the gun in the last chapter, but for me I figure that Christian would've been taught how to handle one properly and sure it's dangerous sticking a gun in the hand of a five year, but a gun can be dangerous in the hands of anyone without training and Daryl wouldn't have just handed the thing over if Christian didn't know how to at least hold it properly without accidentally shooting someone in the foot.

Christian is having an affect, at least I think he is. I also think Daryl is different in this fic than he is on the show. Maybe not significant, not yet, but Daryl wasn't exactly a chatty and showy guy in season one. When he's in front of the group he is pretty similar to how he is in the show, but I also think he's a lot more affectionate with Christian. And he's going to change, even more than he does in the show because he has his son and this is a Caryl fic so that'll change him.

I always worry with these types of notes that I'll accidentally offend or confuse someone, but I just wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page. I'm happy with this story and how it's turning out so far and I hope you are too. I'm doing my best to write these characters and it isn't always going to be perfect.

If any of you have questions or concerns or even something you would like to see happen, feel free to let me know! :)

Hope you liked this chapter! Thanks so much for reading and let me know what you think!